PW's Year of Beer: Hacker-Pschorr Dunkle Weiss

We love beer. That's why we're devoting an entire year to discovering (and drinking) cold ones from near and far. Know of a beer worth shouting out? Send us a note at tips@philadelphiaweekly.com.

Before the American craft beer scene first took off in the mid 1990s, the only way to get beer tastes that ventured away from mass market lagers was to browse the import section – and that’s assuming you were lucky enough to frequent a shop that stocked good imports. One of the standouts was always Hacker-Pschorr. Seemingly unpronounceable but far from undrinkable, they are one of the top brewers in Munich, Germany, and still are. Their Dunkle Weiss (sometimes spelled Dunkel Weiss) is a dark amber ale heavy with wheat, banana and clove in both the aroma and flavor. Bitterness is low, instead replaced with some dark fruit, caramel, and faint spices. The chewy, grainy finish leaves you feeling as if you just drank something with real substance—because you did. Try this classic at Bru Craft & Wurst.